3 killed in Thailand market bombing

Bangkok Jan 22 (IANS) At least three people were killed and another 18 wounded in a bomb explosion at a market in Thailand on Monday an official said.

The bomb was planted on a motorcycle parked in Pimolchai market in Yala capital of the province of the same name a police official told Efe news.

Initial investigations suggested that the device was placed next to a pork stall.

Attacks using small arms and bombs are frequent in the southern provinces of Pattani Yala and Narathiwat despite the deployment of 40 000 security personnel and a state of Emergency.

More than 6 700 people have died in clashes in the region since the Muslim separatist movement resumed its armed struggle in 2004 according to the monitoring organisation Deep South Watch.

--IANS
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